RESEARCH METHODOLOGY……….

Chapter-1: Introduction

What is Research?.......Research in common refers to a search for knowledge. One can

also define research as scientific and systemic search for getting information on a specific
topic. In fact, research is an art of scientific investigation.

Objective of Research………▪ The purpose of research is to discover answer to the

question through the application of scientific procedure. The main aim of research is find
out the truth which is hidden and which has not been discovered as yet. Though each
research study has it’s own specific purpose……….. ▪ To gain familiarity with a
phenomenon or to achieve new ideas into it (exploratory or formulative research
studies);……..▪ To portray accurately the characteristics of a particular individual, situation
or group (descriptive research studies);……….▪ To determine the frequency with which
something occurs or with which it is associated with something else (diagnostic research
studies);………..▪ To test a hypothesis of a causal relationships between variables
(hypothesis-testing research studies).

Motivation in Research:…….What makes people to undertake research that is why people

will be interested to do research? People can be motivated to do research for various
reasons, some possible motives are for doing research may be either one or more of the
following:……..• Desire to get a research degree along with its consequential
benefits;…….• Desire to face the challenge in solving unsolved problems, i.e. concern over
practical problems initiates research;………• Desire to get intellectual joy of doing some
creative works;……….• Desire to serve the society and the nation;……...• Desire to get
respectability.

Besides these many more factors such as directives of government, employment

conditions (job nature), curiosity about new things, desire to understand causal
relationships, social thinking and awaking, and the like may as well motivate (or at times
compel) people to perform research operations.

Types of Research

1..Descriptive vs. Analytical…………Descriptive research:…… - includes surveys and fact-

finding enquiries of different kinds………- It tries to discover answers to the questions who,
what, when and sometimes how……- The major purpose of descriptive research is the
description of the state of affairs as it exists at present

- The main characteristics of this method is that the researcher has no control over the
variables, he can only report what has happened or what is happening. In analytical
research, on the other hand, the researcher has to use facts or information already
available and analyze these facts or information to make a critical evaluation of the
problem.

2…Applied vs Fundamental…………Applied research (Action research) aims at finding a

solution for an immediate problem facing a society or an individual or a business
organization. It uses existing knowledge as an aid to the solution of some specific (given)
problem or set of problems. Whereas fundamental research (Basic/ Pure research) is
mainly concerned with generalizations and with the formulation of a theory. “Gathering
knowledge for knowledge’s sake is termed pure or basic research”. It seeks to extend the
boundaries of knowledge in a given area with no necessary immediate application to
existing problems.

3…Quantitative vs Qualitative………….Quantitative research is the systematic

investigation of quantitative properties and phenomena and their
interrelationships…………- It is based on the measurement/quantification of the
phenomenon (variables) under study. In other words, it is data based and hence more
objective and popular…………- The objective of this research is to develop and employ
mathematical models, theories and/or hypotheses pertaining to natural
phenomenon………….- It is applicable to phenomenon that can be expressed in terms of
quantity. Qualitative research, on the other hand, is concern with qualitative phenomenon
(attributes) that means phenomenon relating to or involving quality or kind.

3…Conceptual vs Empirical…………Conceptual research is that related to some abstract

ideas or theory. It is generally used by the philosophers and thinkers to develop a new
concept or to interpret existing ones. On the other hand empirical research (Experimental
research)- depends on experience or observation alone…

Some Other Types of Research……………1. One-time research and Longitudinal

research:. One-time research is confined to a single time- period, whereas longitudinal
research is carried on over several time-periods……..2. Field-setting research 0r Laboratory
research or simulation research, depending upon the environment in which it is to be
carried out……….3. Clinical or diagnostic research: Such research follow case-study
methods or in-depth approaches to reach the basic causal relations…………. 4. Exploratory
and Formalized research: The objective of exploratory research is the development of
hypotheses rather than their testing, whereas formalized research studies are those with
substantial structure………5. Historical research: Historical research is that which utilizes
historical sources like documents, remains,

Significance of Research………..“All progress is born of inquiry. Doubt is often better than

overconfidence, for it leads to inquiry, and inquiry leads to invention” - Hudson Maxim.
1. The role of research in several fields of applied economics has greatly increased in
modern times. Research provides the basis for nearly all government policies in our
economic system……….. 2. Research has its special significance in solving various
operational and planning problems of business and industry………… 3. Research is equally
important for social scientists in studying social relationships and in seeking answers to
various social problems.

Research Methods versus Research Methodology…………..Research methods may be

understood as all those methods/techniques that are used for conduction of research.
Research methods or techniques, thus, refer to the methods the researchers use in
performing research operations. In other words, all those methods which are used by the
researcher during the course of studying his research problem are termed as research
methods.

Research methodology is a way to systematically solve the research problem. It may be

understood as a science of studying how research is done scientifically. In it we study the
various steps that are generally adopted

Research Process ……….1. Formulating the research problem: At the very outset the
researcher must single out the problem he wants to study, ……….. 2. Extensive Literature
Survey/Review: Once the problem is formulated, a brief summary of it should be written
down…….. 3. Development of working hypothesis: Working hypothesis is tentative
assumption made in order to draw out and test its logical or empirical consequences……..
.4. Preparing the Research Design: It is statement about the conceptual structure within
which research would be conducted…………. 5. Determining Sample Design: All the items
under consideration in any field of inquiry constitute a universe or population..,…….6.
Collecting the Data: There are several ways of collecting the appropriate data which differ
considerably in context of money costs, ……….. 7. Execution of the project: Execution of
the project is a very important step in the research project,…… . Hypothesis testing

Criteria of good research ………..1. The purpose of the research should be clearly defined
and common concepts be used………..2. The research procedure used should be
described in sufficient detail to permit another………..3. The procedural design of the
research should be carefully planned to yield results that are as objective as
possible………..4. The researcher should report with complete frankness, flaws in
procedural design and estimate their effects upon the findings………….5. The analysis of
data should be sufficiently adequate to reveal its significance and the methods of analysis
used should be appropriate. The validity and reliability of the data should be checked
carefully………..6. Conclusions should be confined to those justified by the data of the
research and limited to those for which the data provide an adequate basis…………7.
Greater confidence in research is warranted if the researcher is experienced, has a good
reputation in research and is a person of integrity.

Qualities of a good research…………1. Systematic………. 2. Logical………. 3. Empirical: It

implies that research is related basically to one or more aspects of a real situation and
deals with concrete data that provides a basis for external validity to research
results……….4. replicable

Significance of research…………• Research includes scientific and inductive thinking and

it promotes development of logical habits of thinking and organization……….• The role of
research in several fields of applied economics whether related to business or the
economy as a whole has greatly increased in modern times……….• Research provide the
basis for nearly all government policies in our economic system………….• Research has its
special significance in solving various operational and planning problems of business and
industry……….• Research is equally important for social scientists in studying social
relationships and seeking answers to various social problems

Question : Find out the Problems encountered by researches in Bangladesh.

CHAPTER 2

Defining the Research Problem

WHAT IS A RESEARCH PROBLEM? & The components of a research

problem………….(i)There must be an individual or a group which has some difficulty or the
problem……….(ii) There must be some objective(s) to be attained at. If one wants nothing,
one cannot have a problem……….(iii) There must be alternative means (or the courses of
action) for obtaining the objective(s) one wishes to attain. This means that there must be at
least two means available to a researcher for if he has no choice of means, he cannot have
a problem……….(iv) There must remain some doubt in the mind of a researcher with regard
to the selection of alternatives. This means that research must answer the question
concerning the relative efficiency of the possible alternatives………..(v) There must be some
environment(s) to which the difficulty pertains.

SELECTING THE PROBLEM…………(.i)Subject which is overdone should not be normally

chosen, for it will be a difficult task to throw any new light in such a case……..ii.
Controversial subject should not become the choice of an average researcher………iii. Too
narrow or too vague problems should be avoided……….iv. The subject selected for research
should be familiar and feasible so that the related research material or sources of research
are within one’s reach……….v. The importance of the subject, the qualifications and the
training of a researcher,………the costs involved, the time factor are few other criteria that
must also be considered in selecting a problem………vi. The selection of a problem must be
preceded by a preliminary study. This may not be necessary when the problem requires the
conduct of a research closely similar to one that has already been done. But when the field
of inquiry is relatively new and does not have available a set of well developed techniques,
a brief feasibility study must always be undertaken.

Q. NECESSITY OF DEFINING THE PROBLEM

TECHNIQUE INVOLVED IN DEFINING A PROBLEM……..(i) statement of the problem in a

general way;…….(ii) Understanding the nature of the problem;……..(iii) Surveying the
available literature;……..(iv) Developing the ideas through discussions; and……...(v)
Rephrasing the research problem into a working proposition.

Questions

1. Describe fully the techniques of defining a research problem.

2. What is research problem? Define the main issues which should receive the
attention of the researcher in formulating the research problem. Give suitable
examples to elucidate your points.

3. How do you define a research problem? Give three examples to illustrate your
answer.

4. What is the necessity of defining a research problem? Explain.

5. Write short notes on:

(a) Experience survey; (b) Pilot survey; (c) Components of a research problem;
(d) Rephrasing the research problem.

6. “The task of defining the research problem often follows a sequential pattern”.
Explain.

7. “Knowing what data are available often serves to narrow down the problem itself as
well as the technique that might be used.” Explain the underlying idea in this
statement in the context of defining a research problem.

8. Write a comprehensive note on the “Task of defining a research problem”.